"Mike Williams and Jordan Kovacs both like the positions they've moved to."
Tim (or anyone else): Where did they move? Anything that gets Kovacs closer to the LOS is OK by me.
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First things first, the Michigan Spring Game will now serve as a fundraiser for Mott Children's Hospital. Though the event will still be free to the public, they will have the opportunity to donate money to Mott as they enter - with incentives!
The Beam Family of Brighton, MI will also match every donation that is made during the Spring Game. This fundraiser continues Michigan football's long-standing relationship with Mott.
The Spring Game festivities kick off an April 17th at 11AM, with the Alumni Flag Football Game (gates open at 10AM). The team takes the field for warmups around noon, and the game itself starts at 1. Unfortunately, the team doesn't have enough healthy players to be able to do a full scrimmage with teams divided up, but they'll do more offense v. defense things. In future years, a game-like scrimmage will be possible.
Rich Rodriguez
Steve Schilling
Troy Woolfolk
Practice Observations:
"Mike Williams and Jordan Kovacs both like the positions they've moved to."
Tim (or anyone else): Where did they move? Anything that gets Kovacs closer to the LOS is OK by me.
Magnus said that they're moving to the spur position, which is like the SLB position that Stevie Brown played last year, except it's on the weak side of the defense and has occasional deep coverage responsibilities.
They're safety/lb hybrids now (a la the Spinner and Box Safety from last year). With the 3-3-5 shift, they'll probably be called 'bandit' and 'spur.'
I've heard from a couple places that Cam Gordon has been looking good. This is good news. It's good to hear praise about Floyd, but I wish I heard more reassuring news about Turner.
I LOVE hearing that Lewan has a nasty streak. He might not get any starts this year, but he's gonna be GOOOOOD.
isn't all they'll be running on defense, just getting that out there before people freak like they do over at rivals.
I wish Brennen Beyer would pull the trigger.
I am jonesing for a "Hello: ..." post.
Very good things to hear.
Mouton and Ezeh playing well? Thank God.
You're Welcome.
for all the work you've put in coaching those guys up.
Lets hope they can bring it!
Before I was going to give a $25 donation, but with the 4 passes to the scrimmage for donating to Hospital is just awesome.
Very interesting that Schilling names Toussaint as a power back considering that he was a high school track star and was known for his lateral movement when we recruited him.
the same thing when I saw that. 5'10 200 lbs doesn't say powerback to me. Does anyone know how Fitz's vision as a runner is? I'm wondering if it may be average and he is missing the hole and using leg strength and a north-south mentality to get the necessary yards.
BTW, good to hear that there will be several scrimmages including the Spring Game. These kids need to learn, but also be put in "live" situations to see just how fast the college games really is played.
What? This isn't the Cuban missile crisis.
Whenever I hear about that, my mind goes back to that "movie" everyone watches as a high school freshman where that kid has to break into the university library late at night to find information in the vertical file.
I think that was supposed to teach you how to research.
It didn't.
Fundraising for a children's hospital? Damn lack of family values...
Michigan Football Pays Medical Bills for Children, Hoping for Future Commitments When Healthy!
by (you know who)
In a horrifyingly desperate act of speculation on the recruiting trails, the Wolverines have begun brainwashing what they hope will be future players and donors by paying outrageous amounts toward expensive medical treatments. A source deep inside the hospital hints that they may also be funding experimental procedures involving using the DNA from former Heisman winners, infused in bone marrow, to help the children gain super speed, shiftiness, and hands along with their health . . .
Also, high fives all around to the Beam family. That's very generous of them. They sound like great fans and better people.
That $500 donation looks very intriguing. I already planned on donating but shoot, help a hospital and get sideline passes sounds like a double bonus. One good thing about all the injuries is building depth and getting the young guys more reps.
Hey, haven't seen you around much, but you joined before me. So . . . should I change my avatar, or are we cool the way we are?
TWINS!
Hey, the more Woodson the better. In fact, I could deal with everyone having that avatar.
In the Octagon.
mma, i freakin love mma! i freakin love the wolverines. it would be awesome to see a michigan alumni (most likely wrestler or football player, maybe hockey) in mma. that would be the best of both worlds for me! on the football front i am stoked to attend my first spring game this year! GO BLUE!!
Oh man. Can you donate and get the sideline passes without actually being at the spring game?
While it's encouraging to hear that those who are healing are doing it on or ahead of schedule, I wonder . . . how many athletes, according to their coaches, suffer 'setbacks' this far from the first game?
I hope that the guys really are healing up with incredible fastnessitytionment.
to put you at 1,000 MgoPoints.
for mott is a Fantastic idea. dont know who thought of it - brandon, rr, etc - but whoever, props.
as far as the 3-3-5, obes seems to think its only a situational defense - what would that situation be vis-a-vis our "standard" defense (the 3-4 under or whatever the hell its called these days)?? 3rd downs? spread passing teams? im asking because i honestly dont know.
Practice notes/any actual football talk makes me happy.
The $500 for the sideline passes is a pretty good deal. There are probably a lot of people who would pay that much for a sideline pass even if it didn't go to Mott's. Add in that you are also donating to charity (tax deductible, too) and that's a pretty red hot deal if you've got it.
Could someone enlighten me, these two phrases confuse me.
"Schilling is excited to be a leader on the offensive line"
"Schilling is bummed he won't be around for the first night game in Michigan Stadium"
Is he staying this year, or going to the draft? If he's staying, why won't he be at the game? If he's going, why is he doing a presser and why is he still a leader on the team (I would think that would be a violation, unless hired as a coach)?
The first night game isn't until 9/10/11, brah.
Ahhhh, so it is. Forgot this coming season its away at ND. Epic FAIL on my part. Thank you kind sirs for the clarification, and I shall now go sulk in shame.
this year. 2011 is the home Notre Dame Game at night.
With 5 defensive backs, will we see Dorsey or Christian or possibly both play significantly?
Woolfolk-Turner-Kovacs-Floyd-Dorsey??
With Woolfolk at CB and Vlad out who is playing the deep safety spot?
Cameron Gordon, Brandin Hawthorne
They must have some sort of limit on those right? I can't imagine that the demand wouldn't be huge. Right now my only decision is between that one and the scrimmage passes.
I like that RR has let Woolfolk do as many pressers as he has. He tells it like it is and doesn't give the player-speak. Like when he threw Schaffer under the bus last year and this year--I read somewhere (Scout I think) that they didn't trust Schaffer. Also saying we was skeptical of G-Rob at first but now really likes the D they're playing and how he coaches. It seems like he's really becoming a leader and is willing to play wherever it will help the team most.
This makes two comments now from coaches and players regarding the D-backfield and there has been more praise for Floyd, and no "Turner's looking really good" comments for Justin. I believed that even with his late start last year, that given our horrible corner play, he would have played if he looked good enough in practice. Perhaps I'm wrong, but after a week I still haven't heard comments backing up the kind of athlete we all think he is.
I have seen quotes from players and coaches saying that Turner needs some work. I think they're trying to cut off high expectations for him. Some people think he's playing out of position. One practice observer said that if we played something like a Tampa 2 where he could sit in the flat and help in run support, he'd be great.
So...it sounds as if he's struggling with man coverage and/or playing in a deep third or deep half.
I think we might see him move to spur/bandit before too long.
Which could explain why they are bringing Dorsey in as a corner rather than a safety, yes? Perhaps the coaches have been expecting to move Turner to spur/bandit and feel comfortable doing so with the four freshman corners coming in
I can't remember the article, but someone posted a story on here a little while ago where one of the defensive coaches said something along the lines of: Turner's performance in practice during the fall made the coaches think long and hard toward the end of the year about getting him on the field.
Lately over the years, I don't get excited or to down about the rumors/rumblings/reports from spring practice. It seems every year there's one or two players who get a lot of praise in the spring, but then come saturdays in the fall, I'm left scratching my head as to why this guy was getting so much praise in the spring.
That being said, I'm definitely eager to hear what transpires in the scrimmages, especially in the last one when they are in game like conditions.
I've been reading up on the 4-2-5 defense that many people think we will be running this year but after this most recent post (and talk of the 3-3-5) I'm a bit confused. I could imagine that the 4-2-5 and the 3-3-5 are basically the same set with the 'quick' either setting up on the line or 5 yards off. Anyone have info on the differences between these two defensive sets?
is playing with his hand down or not. Not sure if there is otherwise a significant schematic difference, but I am sure Magnus or Sharik or some of the other coaches can clear up the distinction.
In the 3-3-5, you have one nose tackle and the two defensive ends are either head up or on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackles. The three linebackers are directly behind them, about 4 yards off the line of scrimmage. Now, those linebackers can squirm on/off to confuse the offensive linemen, but that's their base alignment. Craig Roh would probably be stacked on the right defensive end, but he'd probably be rushing the passer more often than not.
With a 4-2-5, you'd have four down linemen. Roh would be the weakside defensive end with his hand in the dirt most of the time, but occasionally in a two-point stance. The two inside linebackers would essentially be directly over the guards; the spur/bandit would be outside the offensive tackles, making it look like a 4-4 alignment.
Pre-snap, the 4-2-5 and the 3-3-5 would look very different.
Post-snap (with Roh presumably blitzing), the 4-2-5 and the 3-3-5 might look pretty similar.
Those are sweet deals and also is for a great cause. Definitely will donate.